Oilers Ice the Kraken: Edmonton's Tactical Triumph in Seattle
The Edmonton Oilers, with a record of 24-12-3, showcased their prowess against the Seattle Kraken, who now stand at 17-20-3 after the game. In a display of skill and strategy, the Oilers emerged victorious with a final score of 4-2.
Game Highlights
The Oilers' performance was marked by precision and efficiency on both ends of the ice. With a total of 32 shots on goal and an impressive shooting percentage of 12 percent, Edmonton capitalized on their opportunities. The team's even-strength play was particularly noteworthy, as all four goals were scored during such periods. The powerplay unit also had its moments despite not converting, generating five shots from a single opportunity.
Leon Draisaitl stood out among his peers with one goal and one assist, proving once again why he is considered one of the key players for Edmonton. Vasily Podkolzin and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins also made significant contributions; Podkolzin with his scoring touch netting one goal and Nugent-Hopkins adding to his season tally with another goal.
On defense, goaltender Calvin Pickard delivered an exceptional performance between the pipes for Edmonton by saving 15 out of 17 shots faced, maintaining a perfect save percentage throughout even-strength play.
Seattle's Stand
Despite falling short in this matchup, the Seattle Kraken displayed resilience throughout. Their goaltender faced an onslaught from Edmonton but managed to save 28 out of 32 shots directed at him. At even strength where most action occurred, he saved 22 out of the total attempts on goal.
Seattle’s effort was evident in their physical play as well; they registered more hits than Edmonton with a count of 23 to seven respectively. However, they struggled in faceoff wins managing only a win rate below fifty percent which limited their control over the game flow.
Looking Ahead
The next challenge for the Edmonton Oilers will be against Boston Bruins at TD Garden on January 7th at 7:00 PM EDT. Fans can catch this upcoming match live through ESPN+ online or NESN for television viewership as both teams look to secure another win in their respective campaigns.